Asti

Asti is a city in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. Called "Hasta" under the Roman Republic, Asti evolved from a fortified camp to a colony and a municipality under Roman rule. Hasta was defended by a massive line of walls during the Roman Empire's existence, with Honorius holding the city from the Visigoths until the Roman general Stilicho defeated the Goths at Pollentia in 402. Hasta declined economically during the barbarian invasions, and it became a duchy under the Lombards and a county under the Franks, who conquered it in 774. In 1095, it became one of Europe's first republics, ruled by a commune and consul magistrates. In 1155, Frederick Barbarossa's German army stormed and burned Asti, which joined the Lombard League against the Holy Roman Empire and the Ghibellines. In 1255, Asti defeated Thomas II of Savoy at Montebruno, and its 1275 victory at Roccavione ended Charles of Anjou's attempts to expand in Piedmont. In 1314, however, the House of Solari turned Asti over to Robert of Naples, and the independent Republic of Asti ceased to exist. Asti remained under Valois control before becoming a direct subject of the Kingdom of France. In 1529, the Treaty of Cambrai led to Asti being ceded to the Holy Roman Empire, and it became a part of Savoy in 1575 as a part of Beatrice of Portugal's dowry during her marriage to Charles III of Savoy. On 28 July 1797, during the French Revolutionary Wars, Asti rebelled against Sardinia due to its poor economic situation, but the rebellion was put down two days later. It returned to Piedmont, and it became a part of Italy in 1860. Asti had a population of 76,164 people in 2017.